Post Graduate Diploma in Interim Measures in Arbitration

Post Graduate Diploma in Interim Measures in Arbitration (PGDIMA)

A Professional Specialized Skill Training Program by Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI)

• Eligibility: Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with Diploma or Graduation appearing or passed.

• Total Fees: Rs. 7,500/-
  (Everything Included from Admission, Course Fees and Delivery of Certificate, no additional Fees Apart from it)

• Mode: Online

• Study Material:  Will be provided through Learning Dashboard/Portal

• Learning Type: Self Paced

• Duration:  3 Months (Preferably, but can be completed anytime as soon as you give the Exam)

• Enrollment:  Any Time, there is no Fixed Enrolment Date or Day. A candidate can choose any time and the enrolment will be processed real time.

• Exam: One Online Exam, MCQ and Subjective Type Questions of 100 Marks. Passing Marks 40%. If unsuccessful, you can give additional two attempts.

• Procedure: Fill the Apply Now Form →  Pay the Requisite Amount of Fees by Clicking Pay Now Button → Then Click on Payment Confirmation button and fill the form with all the Details → Then login to the Dashboard.

Course Overview

In the realm of commercial disputes, time is often the ultimate adversary. The primary objective of arbitration—a swift, binding, and commercially viable resolution—can be completely frustrated if a rogue party alters the status quo, destroys critical evidence, or dissipates assets during the pendency of the proceedings. Interim measures serve as the vital protective shield for the subject matter of the dispute, ensuring that the final arbitral award remains enforceable and is not reduced to a mere paper decree. The Post Graduate Diploma in Interim Measures in Arbitration (PGDIMA), offered by the Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI), is an advanced, highly specialized training program meticulously designed to master this critical, high-stakes domain of dispute resolution.

This Post Graduate Diploma transcends the foundational principles of alternative dispute resolution to focus exclusively on the strategic and procedural complexities of securing urgent judicial and arbitral reliefs. Participants will dive deep into the dual machinery provided by the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The curriculum rigorously analyzes interim measures granted by courts under Section 9—available before the commencement of arbitration, during the proceedings, and even post-award—as well as the parallel powers granted to the Arbitral Tribunal under Section 17.

The program extensively covers the threshold legal tests for granting such stringent reliefs, unpacking complex concepts such as the establishment of a prima facie case, the balance of convenience, and the prevention of irreparable loss. Furthermore, the course explores the rapidly evolving global landscape of Emergency Arbitration, a mechanism increasingly adopted by international institutions like the ICC, SIAC, and domestic bodies to provide immediate relief before a full tribunal can even be constituted.

The PGDIMA is engineered for ambitious professionals who understand that winning a complex arbitration often hinges on the success or failure of the very first interim application. It provides an exhaustive, practical blueprint on how to conceptualize, draft, and argue for injunctions, asset freezing orders (such as Mareva injunctions), and the preservation of intellectual and physical property. By equipping candidates with an unparalleled depth of knowledge regarding the delicate intersection of arbitral tribunals and judicial intervention, this Post Graduate program ensures that practitioners can proactively and aggressively protect their clients' commercial interests in the most urgent and volatile dispute scenarios.

Course Structure and Modules

The tentative module are as follows and the module can be subjected to changes based on the decision as provided by IAI Board of Skill Studies:

Module 1: Fundamentals of Interim Reliefs in Arbitration

• The concept, necessity, and nature of interim measures in commercial disputes.

• The tripartite test for injunctions: Prima Facie Case, Balance of Convenience, and Irreparable Injury.

• Types of interim reliefs: Asset freezing, maintaining the status quo, and securing the amount in dispute.

• Distinguishing between interim measures, partial awards, and final awards.

Module 2: Judicial Intervention: Interim Measures by Court (Section 9)

• Scope and jurisdiction of Courts under Section 9 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

• Pre-arbitration reliefs and the mandatory timeline for commencing arbitral proceedings.

• Post-award interim measures by courts pending enforcement or Section 34 challenges.

• Limitations of court intervention once the Arbitral Tribunal has been constituted.

Module 3: Tribunal's Power: Interim Measures by Arbitral Tribunal (Section 17)

• The evolution of Section 17: Equating tribunal orders with court orders.

• The scope of the Arbitral Tribunal’s authority to grant interim measures during proceedings.

• Handling applications for the preservation, interim custody, or sale of goods/property.

• Procedural dynamics: Ex-parte orders by tribunals and principles of natural justice.

Module 4: Emergency Arbitration: Concepts and Global Practices

• Introduction to Emergency Arbitrators and urgent pre-constitution reliefs.

• Comparative analysis of Emergency Arbitration rules (ICC, SIAC, MCIA, DIAC).

• Enforceability of Emergency Arbitrator orders in domestic and international jurisdictions.

• Drafting the application for the appointment of an Emergency Arbitrator.

Module 5: Enforcement, Non-Compliance, and Appeals (Section 37)

• Mechanisms for enforcing interim orders passed by courts and tribunals.

• Consequences of non-compliance and contempt proceedings in arbitration.

• The appellate framework: Challenging Section 9 and Section 17 orders under Section 37.

• Judicial trends and landmark Supreme Court judgments governing appellate interference.

Module 6: Strategic Drafting and Advocacy for Interim Reliefs

• Drafting compelling Section 9 and Section 17 applications.

• Preparing urgent affidavits and collating supporting evidentiary documents.

• Strategic considerations: Choosing between the Court and the Tribunal for interim relief.

• Oral advocacy techniques for securing urgent ex-parte and contested injunctions.

Importance of Doing this Course

The practical reality of modern commercial arbitration is that the legal battle is frequently won or lost at the interim stage. If a defaulting party successfully alienates the disputed financial assets, encumbers a critical property, or brings a highly contested infrastructure project to a grinding halt while the arbitral tribunal deliberates, the eventual final award becomes virtually meaningless. Undertaking the Post Graduate Diploma in Interim Measures in Arbitration is of paramount importance because it trains professionals to act swiftly, decisively, and legally to safeguard the very core of a commercial dispute.

This specialized course transforms legal practitioners from reactive participants into proactive dispute strategists. Understanding the nuanced, tactical differences between approaching a civil court versus an arbitral tribunal for interim relief requires a highly sophisticated level of legal acumen. For instance, knowing exactly when to leverage the coercive enforcement power of a Section 9 court order versus utilizing the specialized, confidential commercial understanding of a Section 17 tribunal order can fundamentally alter the trajectory of a multi-million-rupee dispute.

Furthermore, as cross-border trade accelerates, the introduction and enforcement of Emergency Arbitrator awards have become a highly complex legal frontier. This Post Graduate program thoroughly bridges that critical knowledge gap. For legal practitioners, corporate in-house counsel, and commercial advisors, this specialized diploma provides the exact tactical blueprint required to freeze assets, secure bank guarantees, and enforce urgent non-compete clauses. It dramatically elevates your professional capability, allowing you to deliver immediate, tangible protection to clients in high-stakes environments, making you an indispensable asset in any complex commercial litigation strategy.

Career Prospects

A specialization at the Post Graduate level in Interim Measures opens up highly lucrative, niche, and specialized career pathways within the apex tiers of the dispute resolution ecosystem. The ability to secure or strategically defend against urgent injunctive reliefs makes professionals holding the PGDIMA exceptionally valuable to high-stakes commercial entities globally.

Specialized Dispute Resolution Teams in Tier-1 Law Firms: Top-tier law firms and elite arbitration chambers constantly seek senior associates and principal practitioners who can confidently handle "midnight injunctions" and urgent relief applications. Professionals with this specialized knowledge are positioned at the forefront of the litigation department, tasked with drafting urgent pleadings and securing immediate court interventions before the tribunal is even formed.

In-House Corporate Counsel in High-Risk Sectors: Industries such as construction, heavy infrastructure, maritime shipping, and intellectual property frequently face abrupt contractual breaches requiring immediate legal containment. In-house legal heads equipped with this diploma can orchestrate rapid strategic responses, effectively instruct external senior counsel, and secure corporate assets before severe financial damage occurs.

Cross-Border Arbitration Specialists: With the exponential rise of foreign direct investments and international joint ventures, multinational corporations require legal advisors who deeply understand the interplay between domestic courts and international arbitral institutions. Knowledge of Emergency Arbitration makes these professionals vital assets in cross-border dispute teams.

Independent Strategic Counsel: Litigators who wish to branch into highly profitable independent practice can carve out a specialized niche. By serving as strategic co-counsel exclusively for securing pre-arbitration injunctions, freezing orders, and interim measures, practitioners can attract high-value briefs from smaller firms, individual commercial clients, and MSMEs navigating volatile commercial disputes.

Necessary Details

The Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI) has engineered the delivery and administrative framework of the Post Graduate Diploma in Interim Measures in Arbitration (PGDIMA) to ensure maximum accessibility, flexibility, and professional convenience. This advanced program is designed to integrate seamlessly into the busy lives of practicing professionals and advanced students.

Eligibility To maintain a high standard of professional learning while remaining accessible, the eligibility criteria for this Post Graduate Diploma is set as: Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with Diploma or Graduation appearing or passed. This ensures that young law students currently in their graduation phase, seasoned legal practitioners, corporate managers, and cross-disciplinary professionals can all upgrade their strategic skill sets in this vital area of dispute resolution.

Total Fees The comprehensive fee for this advanced Post Graduate program is Rs. 7,500/-. The IAI is dedicated to absolute financial transparency. This is a one-time, completely all-inclusive fee. It thoroughly covers everything from your admission processing and full access to the course modules to examination fees and the physical delivery of your final Post Graduate Diploma Certificate. There are absolutely no hidden charges, late fees, or additional costs for study materials apart from this single payment.

Mode and Study Material The entire program is delivered Online, breaking down geographical barriers and bringing premium legal education directly to your screen. Upon successful enrollment, candidates are granted exclusive, secure access to a state-of-the-art Learning Dashboard/Portal. All necessary Study Material—comprising comprehensive module notes, leading case laws, drafting templates for interim applications, and strategic checklists—will be provided exclusively through this digital portal.

Learning Type and Duration Understanding the demanding schedules of modern legal and corporate professionals, the course utilizes a Self-Paced learning methodology. While the designated, preferred duration to comfortably complete the extensive curriculum is 3 Months, this framework is entirely adaptable. Candidates have the total freedom to progress through the modules at their own speed. If you have the capacity to accelerate your learning, you can complete the program and take the final exam anytime sooner.

Enrollment Professional development should not be delayed by rigid academic calendars. Therefore, enrollment is open Any Time. There is no fixed enrollment date, batch waiting period, or specific day to join. A candidate can choose to register at their exact moment of convenience, and the digital enrollment will be processed in real-time, granting instant access to the course content.

Examination Structure The award of the Post Graduate Diploma is contingent upon successfully clearing One Online Exam. The assessment is a rigorous mix of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and Subjective Type Questions, designed to test both theoretical knowledge and practical drafting application, totaling 100 Marks. The passing benchmark is designed to be accessible at 40%. To alleviate unnecessary pressure, the IAI provides a supportive safety net allowing unsuccessful candidates two additional attempts at no extra financial cost.

Application Procedure Joining this premier program is a seamless, straightforward digital process:

1. Apply: Navigate to the official portal and fill out the Apply Now Form with your details.

2. Pay: Remit the requisite fee of Rs. 7,500/- safely by clicking the Pay Now button.

3. Confirm: After the transaction, click on the Payment Confirmation button and fill out the final registration form with all required details.

4. Access: Log in directly to your personalized Dashboard and commence your specialization in arbitration interim measures.